
Venezuela was at one time a prosperous democracy, one of the few in South America. In recent years it has been plunged into abject poverty with triple digit inflation and millions of its citizens leaving. Oil had been the mainstay of the Venezuelan economy but through mismanagement, amongst other problems, the oil industry and its infrastructure declined as well as corruption that drained monies that where being earned going to a few elites, Maduro chief among them. Two things then happened, First the government turned to drug trade to shore itself up and, second, it sold itself to foreign interests. These foreign interests where namely Russia and China.
The people of Venezuela tired of the socialist experiment twice voted Maduro out, and twice he corrupted the system to retain power. The world took notice and the United States Canada, the EU, and OAS all declared that Maduro was not the legitimate President. On March 26, 2020, he was indicted by the U.S. DOJ on charges of narco-terrorism. On January 10, 2025, President Joe Biden put a bounty of $25 million on Maduro. In 2005 the UN, while maintaining State sovereignty adopted a measure establishing “Responsibility to Protect” or “R2P” which laid out conditions under which the international community had a responsibility to protect citizens who were being oppressed.
Had the world moved against Nazi Germany or Imperial Japan would history have been different? Given an even whose regime, Iran, should the world take up the call of the Iranians in the street and move to regime change?
Trump did not remove a sitting President as he was not accepted as legitimate. Trump did not invade Venezuela it was a snatch and grab of an indicted criminal. There has to date been no regime change, but should it transpire it is being done to return the country to its citizens. This is the intended use of R2P
Before we hear the claim, it is all about oil, let me point out. Venezuelan oil is very heavy with a high sulfur content. It is very expensive to refine, used mostly for diesel fuel, asphalt for roads and heating oil. It is also used as feedstock for the petrochemical industry. While important the U.S. has more then enough oil for its domestic needs and as an export.
The world is a dangerous place and getting more dangerous by the day. The West has been too involved in self-proclaimed guilt that it has lost its way and its ability to lead. One of the mainstays of modern diplomacy is deterrence. For deterrence to be effective the other side must understand that we are willing to use force. For too long that has been misunderstood and the world has suffered. We do not and we will not always get our way, that’s fine. But both sides must seek an understanding not just wait for the West to give up.
In the end instead of listening to leftwing/socialist mouth pieces lets listen to the Venezuelans in the street.








